CDS 1 2027 Exam Date: 11 April 2027 – Eligibility, Seats and How to Prepare
UPSC has fixed CDS 1 2027 for 11 April 2027, with the notification on 2 December 2026. Official dates, seats, expected age limits, exam pattern and a 22-week plan.
If you are in the final year of college, or already holding a degree, and the uniform still pulls at you, this is your cycle. The Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2027 is fixed for Sunday, 11 April 2027, and the form opens on 2 December 2026, less than four weeks from now.
CDS is the graduate’s door into the Indian Military Academy, the Indian Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Officers Training Academy. Below is everything UPSC has confirmed so far, what is still only expected, and how to use the next five months well.
From the UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027, published as on 20 May 2026 (UPSC calendar PDF):
| Event | CDS (I) 2027 | CDS (II) 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 2 December 2026 | 12 May 2027 |
| Last date to apply | 22 December 2026 | 1 June 2027 |
| Exam date | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) |
CDS (I) shares its dates with NDA (I) 2027. UPSC notes that dates are “liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant”, so check upsc.gov.in on 2 December.
The exact CDS (I) 2027 vacancies will only come with the notice. For a sense of scale, both CDS notices of 2026 listed the same 451 approximate vacancies (CDS II 2026 notice):
| Academy | Seats (CDS 2026 notices) |
|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun | 100 (incl. 13 for NCC ‘C’ Army Wing) |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala | 26 |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (pre-flying) | 32 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai – SSC Men (NT) | 275 |
| Officers Training Academy, Chennai – SSC Women (NT) | 18 |
| Total | 451 |
The CDS (I) 2026 notice fed courses starting in January 2027 (IMA) and April 2027 (OTA). By the same pattern, CDS (I) 2027 should feed courses starting in early 2028, but treat that as our expectation until the notice is out.
Education (from the CDS II 2026 notice):
Age – expected, not yet confirmed. CDS (I) 2026 accepted IMA and INA candidates born between 2 January 2003 and 1 January 2008. CDS (II) 2026 moved that window forward six months, to 1 July 2003 – 1 July 2008. If UPSC keeps the same step, CDS (I) 2027 should accept:
| Academy | Expected birth-date window (CDS I 2027) |
|---|---|
| IMA and INA | 2 January 2004 – 1 January 2009 |
| Air Force Academy | 2 January 2004 – 1 January 2008 |
| OTA (men and women) | 2 January 2003 – 1 January 2009 |
Please confirm these against the notice on 2 December. IMA, INA and OTA (men) are for unmarried men; the OTA SSC Women (Non-Technical) course is open to unmarried women and to issueless widows and divorcees who have not remarried, as per the 2026 notices.
As per the 2026 notices, every paper is objective and lasts 2 hours:
| Paper | IMA / INA / AFA | OTA |
|---|---|---|
| English | 100 marks | 100 marks |
| General Knowledge | 100 marks | 100 marks |
| Elementary Mathematics | 100 marks | Not required |
| Written total | 300 | 200 |
The SSB interview carries the same maximum marks as the written paper for each academy. Every wrong answer costs one-third (0.33) of that question’s marks. The fee in 2026 was Rs. 200, and women and SC/ST candidates were exempt.
Most CDS aspirants are juggling semester exams, internships or a job, so this plan asks for about 3 focused hours on weekdays and more at weekends.
Our earlier guide on how to clear the CDS exam goes deeper on each subject, and is the CDS exam really hard? is worth reading if you are nervous.
If you are still in Class 12, NDA is your route, and its dates are the same as CDS this cycle; see our NDA 1 2027 guide. If you are a graduate who wants a short service commission, read our OTA entry explained first.
We run CDS coaching in Dehradun with SSB interview preparation, mock tests and study material. Course details are on our CDS coaching in Dehradun page, and current batch dates are on upcoming batches.
A degree gives you a second chance at the uniform that many people never get. Use these 22 weeks well and walk into the hall on 11 April knowing you did everything you could.
Sources (checked 7 November 2026): UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027, as on 20.05.2026; UPSC CDS (I) 2026 notice; UPSC CDS (II) 2026 notice, 20.05.2026. The CDS (I) 2027 age windows, seats and course dates are expected values until UPSC publishes the notice on 2 December 2026.
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UPSC has scheduled the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2027 for Sunday, 11 April 2027, as per its 2027 calendar dated 20 May 2026.
The UPSC calendar lists 2 December 2026 as the notification date and 22 December 2026 as the last date to apply.
Both CDS notices of 2026 listed 451 approximate vacancies: IMA 100, INA 26, AFA 32, OTA men 275 and OTA women 18. The CDS (I) 2027 figures will be in its notice.
Yes, going by the 2026 notices. Final-year degree students can apply and must show proof of passing the degree by the time the course begins.
No. OTA candidates write only English and General Knowledge (200 marks). IMA, INA and AFA candidates also write Elementary Mathematics (300 marks in all).
UPSC has fixed CDS 1 2027 for 11 April 2027, with the notification on 2 December 2026. Official dates, seats, expected age limits, exam pattern and a 22-week plan.
UPSC has fixed the NDA 1 2027 exam for 11 April 2027, with the notification on 2 December 2026. Official dates, expected eligibility, exam pattern and a 22-week plan.
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